Lloyd Pest Control Treats 'Kitchen Nightmare' Cockroach Infestation

Editor's note: In the following article, Lloyd Pest Control, San Diego Calif., shared a firsthand encounter of treating a severe cockroach in a vacant apartment complex in Los Angeles County, and important tips to remember when treating multi-unit housing complexes.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Fans of "Kitchen Nightmares," the reality show hosted by chef Gordon Ramsay, know he’s encountered some truly horrifying kitchens. However, a recent job for Lloyd Pest Control made even Ramsay’s worst encounters seem mild.

The nightmare unit was in Los Angeles County, in an apartment complex that San Diego-headquartered Lloyd regularly services. After tenants abruptly moved out in the middle of the night, the unit remained unoccupied for several weeks - but it was far from vacant.

The former residents had left behind furniture, garbage, and food sitting on the counters. Even worse, they had abandoned several cats - along with their food - inside the apartment.

As if spoiled food, cat droppings, and piles of garbage weren’t already signs of a severe infestation, the kitchen wall left no doubt. Where a sign had once hung, the word kitchen was still visible, not from dust or leftover paint, but from layers of cockroach excrement.

“It was a real mess when we finally gained access to the unit,” said Phebes Rhyne, northwest regional manager for Lloyd. “It was so bad that there were live German cockroaches crawling on the cats.”

According to Rhyne, the infestation had been so severe for so long that when the tenants removed the sign, the accumulated droppings left a perfect outline of the word.

Lloyd’s first step in remediating this kitchen nightmare was to conduct a thorough inspection of the entire apartment. Phebes said cockroaches were found everywhere -inside furniture, drawers, closets, cracks, and crevices.

To achieve a fast knockdown, Lloyd technicians applied a layered treatment, including liquid pesticides, dust and baits. This approach delivered immediate results, reducing the infestation by 75 percent within the first week.

“The apartment complex had no significant pest issues before this, and they wanted to keep it that way,” Rhyne said. “We saw a reduction in the population with each service visit.”

Lloyd assigns a supervisor to monitor extreme pest situations until the infestation is completely resolved. In this case, it took approximately six weeks before the apartment was ready to be turned back over to the management company for leasing.

Why Do Apartments Attract Pests?

Cockroaches, rodents and bed bugs are among the most common pest issues in apartments. But why are apartment complexes particularly vulnerable to infestations? Rhyne highlighted several key reasons:

• Shared Walls and Utilities – Apartments are interconnected through walls, floors, and utility lines, providing easy pathways for pests to travel between units and spread quickly.

• High Population Density – With hundreds of residents, visitors, and staff moving in and out daily, pests have constant opportunities to find food, shelter, and new hiding spots. Shared spaces like lobbies and laundry rooms are also hotspots for pest activity.

• Frequent Tenant Turnover – A single unit may house dozens of tenants over time, increasing the likelihood of pests being introduced through furniture, luggage, or personal belongings. Some infestations can go unnoticed for weeks if pests are small or well-hidden.

• Varying Degrees of Cooperation – Each resident has different habits when it comes to cooking, cleaning, and food storage. Actions like failing to clean up spills, leaving food unsealed, or neglecting garbage disposal can attract pests.

• Education Matters – Lloyd provides customer preparation sheets, in both English and Spanish, to property managers and residents before service visits. These sheets outline how to prepare units properly and offer post-service tips to ensure effective treatment.

Another growing concern for property managers is the rising number of lawsuits over pest infestations. In some cases, settlements have exceeded $1 million for severe bed bug, rodent, and cockroach infestations.

“The volume and cost of lawsuits have opened the eyes of property managers to the importance of regular professional pest control services,” said Efrain Velasco, B.C.E., Lloyd’s technical director. “Working with residents to ensure access to units is critical.”

Collaboration with property managers is essential for keeping apartment complexes pest-free. They have the most contact with residents, oversee maintenance and sanitation, and, most importantly, control access to units.

Velasco emphasized that regular access to both occupied and unoccupied units is crucial for effective pest prevention.

“Being notified when a unit turns over allows us to inspect it, address any pest issues, and eliminate conducive conditions,” Velasco said.